Building Connected Communities

Sexual Assualt Awareness Month 2024

Building Connected Communities helps us reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment in our communities. Any space where people come together is a community, whether in neighborhoods, workplaces, campuses, organizations, or even online spaces. We are all a part of a community, often many, even when we may feel disconnected or apart from them.

Community is powerful. Community creates a sense of belonging and reminds us of how our beliefs, choices, and actions impact one another. At the center of Building Connected Communities is ensuring our communities are safe, inclusive, and equitable. Racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, and other forms of oppression contribute to higher rates of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. We must address all abuses of power to prevent sexual violence — in our relationships, communities, and society.

What does it take to Build Connected Communities?

Addressing the social and structural determinants of health, such as education, income, employment, community safety, and social support, is crucial to improving the conditions in which we live, learn, work, and play. In a connected community, we can look out for one another and make choices to promote health, safety, and well-being. Building Connected Communities brings us closer to the goal of health equity. Health equity means that everyone, no matter their situation, has a chance to achieve their best possible health, creating a fair and just opportunity for all to reach their highest level of well-being (PI & NSVRC 2021).

We recognize that how we talk about sexual violence significantly impacts survivors, their families, our communities, and society. We also understand that our voices have power and that when one of us does not feel safe or respected we are all affected. As such, we must strive to create strong, connected communities that take care of one another and make decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of others to end sexual violence.

Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact — including sexual assault, harassment, and abuse.

Forms of sexual violence include:

• Rape or sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual abuse
• Unwanted sexual contact/touching
• Sexual exploitation and trafficking,
• Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent,
• Nonconsensual image sharing
• Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent
• Sexual violence represents a range of behaviors

Statistics show:

• Most women and men across all sexual identities who experienced contact sexual violence reported that the person who harmed them was someone they knew (Chen, et al., 2023).
• Over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• 1 in 5 male victims reported only male perpetrators, 1 in 2 had only female perpetrators, and about 1 in 6 had both male and female perpetrators  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• More than 1 and 4 non-Hispanic Black women (29%) in the United States were raped in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• 1 in 3 Hispanic women (34.8%) reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime (Rosay, 2016).
• 32.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence (Tomsa et al., 2021).
• 47% of all transgender people have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives (James et al., 2016).

Awareness and Action during Sexual Assault Awareness Month

This April, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, learn how to take steps to build connected communities and enhance your knowledge of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. In addition, we invite you to explore how to create safe communities where everyone feels safe and supported. We’re asking you to join us in building connected communities that promote equity and respect, as our connections to one another have an impact more significant than just ourselves.

Together We Can Build Connected Communities

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource gives background and context to help audiences understand how prevention efforts can be expanded to the community level. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

Building Blocks of A Connected Community

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource explores what the building blocks of a connected community are and how these connections protect against the risk of sexual violence. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

#30DaysofSAAM Instagram Challenge 2024

• March 01, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Join advocates, activists, survivors, and supporters who are getting involved in Sexual Assault Awareness Month #SAAM2024 this April on Instagram. Daily prompts encourage creative ways to raise awareness, educate, and connect with others — plus, you have a chance to win prizes every day you participate.

Building Connected Communities Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

We Can End Sexual Violence Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Share Your Voice Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Together We Can Build Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

SAAM 2024 Proclamation

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a time to draw attention to the prevalence of sexual assault and educate individuals and communities about how to prevent it. Use this proclamation as a clear declaration to join advocates and communities across the country in taking action to prevent sexual violence.

¿Cómo apoyar a los hombres en su sanación tras incidentes de violencia sexual?: hojas informativas

• January 18, 2024
• JL Heinze

Una serie de hojas informativas sobre cómo trabajar con los hombres. Entre los temas están: cómo llegar a los hombres, adicción, sobrevivientes transmasculinos, exámenes forenses, hombres recluidos, recursos para hombres y enlaces de referencia rápida para los intercesores. Este recurso es parte del conjunto de publicaciones ¿Cómo trabajar con sobrevivientes masculinos de violencia sexual?.

Supporting Men in Healing from Sexual Violence: Tip Sheets

• January 18, 2024
• NSVRC

A series of tip sheets on working with men. Topics include reaching men, addiction, transmasculine survivors, forensic exams, incarcerated men, resources for men, and quick reference links for advocates. This resource is part of Working with Male Survivors of Sexual Violence.

References 

Basile, K. C., Smith, S. G., Kresnow, M., Khatiwada S., & Leemis, R. W. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 report on sexual violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs/nisvsReportonSexualViolence.pdf

Chen, J., Khatiwada, S., Chen, M. S., Smith, S. G., Leemis, R. W., Friar, N., Basile, K. C., and Kresnow, M. (2023). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2016/2017: Report on Victimization by Sexual Identity. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf

Rosay, A. B. (2016, September). Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and men,. NIJ Journal, 277. National Institute of Justice. http://nij.gov/journals/277/Pages/violence-againstamerican-indians-alaska-natives.aspx

Prevention Institute & National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2021). A Health Equity Approach to Preventing Sexual Violence. https://www.nsvrc.org/resource/2500/health-equity-approach-preventing-sexual-violence

Tomsa, R., Gutu, S., Cojocaru, D., Gutiérrez-Bermejo, B., Flores, N., & Jenaro, C. (2021). Prevalence of sexual abuse in adults with intellectual disability: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1980. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041980

Online Child Abuse Survivors Forums and Live Chat Room

isurvive is all about the members. Our collective aim is to offer support to each other from our hearts and through our experiences.

After you have completed our automated registration process to become a member (visit the forum for the registration link), you will be contacted by one of our Admin Team who will guide you through the final steps. We make every effort to ensure that those joining are fully aware of our guidelines and to be on hand to help ease their way into our community.

We have 8 parent forums:

• General Discussion
• Survivors
• Addictions, Self-Harm and Unhealthy Coping Strategies (hidden to non-members)
• Breaking the Cycle
• Self-Care Center
• Family, Friends and Relationships
• Lighthearted and Off Topic
• Creative Corner and Art Gallery

In addition to select sub-forums which are open for reading, you will gain access to the following supplementary ones by becoming a member of isurvive:

• Our Stories
  The stories of who we are and of our lives
• Survivors of Incest and Sexual Abuse
  Discussion area specifically for childhood sexual abuse survivors
• Survivors of Ritualized Abuse
  Discussion area for survivors whose child abuse was organized, repetitive, secretive, ritualized and/or torture based. Some topics include healing from the abuse caused by cults, religious or spiritual groups, torture-based systematic abuse, mind control, pornography rings, sex trafficking and child prostitution
• Survivors with Dissociative Disorders or PTSD
  Discussion area for survivors who live daily with PTSD or a Dissociative Disorder.  Opportunities to discuss how these conditions impact their lives as well as being a place to gain support, share experiences and offer ideas for managing the symptoms and difficulties that arise. Some topics of discussion include: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Dissociative Amnesia (DA), Dissociative Disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS), Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder
• Dissociative Youth Forum
• Safe discussion areas for dissociative younger parts to share, discuss and seek support as they heal, live and manage daily life
• Male Survivors of Child Abuse, Incest and Sexual Abuse
  A discussion and support area for male survivors of all types of child abuse
• Contact with Past Abusers/Enablers
  Discussion area for issues that arise when contact from abusers or enablers is made. It also is a place to write letters to abusers/enablers to help process feelings and thoughts
• Survivors Living/Having a Relationship With Their Abusers
  Discussion area for those who choose to remain in contact or are still living with their abusers/enablers. This is an area where discussions can be held free from any pressures to change your circumstances
• Survivors with Addictions, Dependence or Compulsions
  A forum for adult child abuse survivors dealing with unhealthy behaviour patterns, trapped in an addictive cycle or struggling to break free from compulsive coping methods. Difficulties and healing regarding self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorders, OCD, hoarding, gambling and other similar behaviours can be discussed here
• Relationships
  A discussion area for processing intimacy and relationship difficulties and sharing healing experiences
• Parenting Trials and Tribulations
  This is a place for all parents/carers to share difficulties and achievements which may arise while dealing with their own healing

Register to Join Our Forums and Chat Room

We also have a chat room, to which you can request access following a minimum of 2 weeks’ active participation on the forums.

Here you can seek support via real time connection through real time interactions.

Once inside the chat room, you will see a list of the members currently online. To chat, users type a message into a text box. The message is almost immediately visible in the larger communal message area, and other users respond.

Please know that, as a team, we are here to help and can be contacted at any time as follows:

The Directors:

• jonesy@isurvive.org
• serenity@isurvive.org

The Board of Directors:

• boardofdirectors@isurvive.org

Please read through our Forum Guidelines, Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability, Privacy Policy, and Chat Guidelines

Building Connected Communities

Sexual Assualt Awareness Month 2024

Building Connected Communities helps us reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment in our communities. Any space where people come together is a community, whether in neighborhoods, workplaces, campuses, organizations, or even online spaces. We are all a part of a community, often many, even when we may feel disconnected or apart from them.

Community is powerful. Community creates a sense of belonging and reminds us of how our beliefs, choices, and actions impact one another. At the center of Building Connected Communities is ensuring our communities are safe, inclusive, and equitable. Racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, and other forms of oppression contribute to higher rates of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. We must address all abuses of power to prevent sexual violence — in our relationships, communities, and society.

What does it take to Build Connected Communities?

Addressing the social and structural determinants of health, such as education, income, employment, community safety, and social support, is crucial to improving the conditions in which we live, learn, work, and play. In a connected community, we can look out for one another and make choices to promote health, safety, and well-being. Building Connected Communities brings us closer to the goal of health equity. Health equity means that everyone, no matter their situation, has a chance to achieve their best possible health, creating a fair and just opportunity for all to reach their highest level of well-being (PI & NSVRC 2021).

We recognize that how we talk about sexual violence significantly impacts survivors, their families, our communities, and society. We also understand that our voices have power and that when one of us does not feel safe or respected we are all affected. As such, we must strive to create strong, connected communities that take care of one another and make decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of others to end sexual violence.

Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact — including sexual assault, harassment, and abuse.

Forms of sexual violence include:

• Rape or sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual abuse
• Unwanted sexual contact/touching
• Sexual exploitation and trafficking,
• Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent,
• Nonconsensual image sharing
• Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent
• Sexual violence represents a range of behaviors

Statistics show:

• Most women and men across all sexual identities who experienced contact sexual violence reported that the person who harmed them was someone they knew (Chen, et al., 2023).
• Over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• 1 in 5 male victims reported only male perpetrators, 1 in 2 had only female perpetrators, and about 1 in 6 had both male and female perpetrators  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• More than 1 and 4 non-Hispanic Black women (29%) in the United States were raped in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• 1 in 3 Hispanic women (34.8%) reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime (Rosay, 2016).
• 32.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence (Tomsa et al., 2021).
• 47% of all transgender people have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives (James et al., 2016).

Awareness and Action during Sexual Assault Awareness Month

This April, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, learn how to take steps to build connected communities and enhance your knowledge of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. In addition, we invite you to explore how to create safe communities where everyone feels safe and supported. We’re asking you to join us in building connected communities that promote equity and respect, as our connections to one another have an impact more significant than just ourselves.

Together We Can Build Connected Communities

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource gives background and context to help audiences understand how prevention efforts can be expanded to the community level. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

Building Blocks of A Connected Community

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource explores what the building blocks of a connected community are and how these connections protect against the risk of sexual violence. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

#30DaysofSAAM Instagram Challenge 2024

• March 01, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Join advocates, activists, survivors, and supporters who are getting involved in Sexual Assault Awareness Month #SAAM2024 this April on Instagram. Daily prompts encourage creative ways to raise awareness, educate, and connect with others — plus, you have a chance to win prizes every day you participate.

Building Connected Communities Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

We Can End Sexual Violence Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Share Your Voice Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Together We Can Build Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

SAAM 2024 Proclamation

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a time to draw attention to the prevalence of sexual assault and educate individuals and communities about how to prevent it. Use this proclamation as a clear declaration to join advocates and communities across the country in taking action to prevent sexual violence.

¿Cómo apoyar a los hombres en su sanación tras incidentes de violencia sexual?: hojas informativas

• January 18, 2024
• JL Heinze

Una serie de hojas informativas sobre cómo trabajar con los hombres. Entre los temas están: cómo llegar a los hombres, adicción, sobrevivientes transmasculinos, exámenes forenses, hombres recluidos, recursos para hombres y enlaces de referencia rápida para los intercesores. Este recurso es parte del conjunto de publicaciones ¿Cómo trabajar con sobrevivientes masculinos de violencia sexual?.

Supporting Men in Healing from Sexual Violence: Tip Sheets

• January 18, 2024
• NSVRC

A series of tip sheets on working with men. Topics include reaching men, addiction, transmasculine survivors, forensic exams, incarcerated men, resources for men, and quick reference links for advocates. This resource is part of Working with Male Survivors of Sexual Violence.

References 

Basile, K. C., Smith, S. G., Kresnow, M., Khatiwada S., & Leemis, R. W. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 report on sexual violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs/nisvsReportonSexualViolence.pdf

Chen, J., Khatiwada, S., Chen, M. S., Smith, S. G., Leemis, R. W., Friar, N., Basile, K. C., and Kresnow, M. (2023). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2016/2017: Report on Victimization by Sexual Identity. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf

Rosay, A. B. (2016, September). Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and men,. NIJ Journal, 277. National Institute of Justice. http://nij.gov/journals/277/Pages/violence-againstamerican-indians-alaska-natives.aspx

Prevention Institute & National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2021). A Health Equity Approach to Preventing Sexual Violence. https://www.nsvrc.org/resource/2500/health-equity-approach-preventing-sexual-violence

Tomsa, R., Gutu, S., Cojocaru, D., Gutiérrez-Bermejo, B., Flores, N., & Jenaro, C. (2021). Prevalence of sexual abuse in adults with intellectual disability: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1980. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041980

Online Child Abuse Survivors Forums and Live Chat Room

isurvive is all about the members. Our collective aim is to offer support to each other from our hearts and through our experiences.

After you have completed our automated registration process to become a member (visit the forum for the registration link), you will be contacted by one of our Admin Team who will guide you through the final steps. We make every effort to ensure that those joining are fully aware of our guidelines and to be on hand to help ease their way into our community.

We have 8 parent forums:

• General Discussion
• Survivors
• Addictions, Self-Harm and Unhealthy Coping Strategies (hidden to non-members)
• Breaking the Cycle
• Self-Care Center
• Family, Friends and Relationships
• Lighthearted and Off Topic
• Creative Corner and Art Gallery

In addition to select sub-forums which are open for reading, you will gain access to the following supplementary ones by becoming a member of isurvive:

• Our Stories
  The stories of who we are and of our lives
• Survivors of Incest and Sexual Abuse
  Discussion area specifically for childhood sexual abuse survivors
• Survivors of Ritualized Abuse
  Discussion area for survivors whose child abuse was organized, repetitive, secretive, ritualized and/or torture based. Some topics include healing from the abuse caused by cults, religious or spiritual groups, torture-based systematic abuse, mind control, pornography rings, sex trafficking and child prostitution
• Survivors with Dissociative Disorders or PTSD
  Discussion area for survivors who live daily with PTSD or a Dissociative Disorder.  Opportunities to discuss how these conditions impact their lives as well as being a place to gain support, share experiences and offer ideas for managing the symptoms and difficulties that arise. Some topics of discussion include: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Dissociative Amnesia (DA), Dissociative Disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS), Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder
• Dissociative Youth Forum
• Safe discussion areas for dissociative younger parts to share, discuss and seek support as they heal, live and manage daily life
• Male Survivors of Child Abuse, Incest and Sexual Abuse
  A discussion and support area for male survivors of all types of child abuse
• Contact with Past Abusers/Enablers
  Discussion area for issues that arise when contact from abusers or enablers is made. It also is a place to write letters to abusers/enablers to help process feelings and thoughts
• Survivors Living/Having a Relationship With Their Abusers
  Discussion area for those who choose to remain in contact or are still living with their abusers/enablers. This is an area where discussions can be held free from any pressures to change your circumstances
• Survivors with Addictions, Dependence or Compulsions
  A forum for adult child abuse survivors dealing with unhealthy behaviour patterns, trapped in an addictive cycle or struggling to break free from compulsive coping methods. Difficulties and healing regarding self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorders, OCD, hoarding, gambling and other similar behaviours can be discussed here
• Relationships
  A discussion area for processing intimacy and relationship difficulties and sharing healing experiences
• Parenting Trials and Tribulations
  This is a place for all parents/carers to share difficulties and achievements which may arise while dealing with their own healing

Register to Join Our Forums and Chat Room

We also have a chat room, to which you can request access following a minimum of 2 weeks’ active participation on the forums.

Here you can seek support via real time connection through real time interactions.

Once inside the chat room, you will see a list of the members currently online. To chat, users type a message into a text box. The message is almost immediately visible in the larger communal message area, and other users respond.

Please know that, as a team, we are here to help and can be contacted at any time as follows:

The Directors:

• jonesy@isurvive.org
• serenity@isurvive.org

The Board of Directors:

• boardofdirectors@isurvive.org

Please read through our Forum Guidelines, Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability, Privacy Policy, and Chat Guidelines

Building Connected Communities

Sexual Assualt Awareness Month 2024

Building Connected Communities helps us reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment in our communities. Any space where people come together is a community, whether in neighborhoods, workplaces, campuses, organizations, or even online spaces. We are all a part of a community, often many, even when we may feel disconnected or apart from them.

Community is powerful. Community creates a sense of belonging and reminds us of how our beliefs, choices, and actions impact one another. At the center of Building Connected Communities is ensuring our communities are safe, inclusive, and equitable. Racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, and other forms of oppression contribute to higher rates of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. We must address all abuses of power to prevent sexual violence — in our relationships, communities, and society.

What does it take to Build Connected Communities?

Addressing the social and structural determinants of health, such as education, income, employment, community safety, and social support, is crucial to improving the conditions in which we live, learn, work, and play. In a connected community, we can look out for one another and make choices to promote health, safety, and well-being. Building Connected Communities brings us closer to the goal of health equity. Health equity means that everyone, no matter their situation, has a chance to achieve their best possible health, creating a fair and just opportunity for all to reach their highest level of well-being (PI & NSVRC 2021).

We recognize that how we talk about sexual violence significantly impacts survivors, their families, our communities, and society. We also understand that our voices have power and that when one of us does not feel safe or respected we are all affected. As such, we must strive to create strong, connected communities that take care of one another and make decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of others to end sexual violence.

Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact — including sexual assault, harassment, and abuse.

Forms of sexual violence include:

• Rape or sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual abuse
• Unwanted sexual contact/touching
• Sexual exploitation and trafficking,
• Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent,
• Nonconsensual image sharing
• Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent
• Sexual violence represents a range of behaviors

Statistics show:

• Most women and men across all sexual identities who experienced contact sexual violence reported that the person who harmed them was someone they knew (Chen, et al., 2023).
• Over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• 1 in 5 male victims reported only male perpetrators, 1 in 2 had only female perpetrators, and about 1 in 6 had both male and female perpetrators  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• More than 1 and 4 non-Hispanic Black women (29%) in the United States were raped in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• 1 in 3 Hispanic women (34.8%) reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime (Rosay, 2016).
• 32.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence (Tomsa et al., 2021).
• 47% of all transgender people have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives (James et al., 2016).

Awareness and Action during Sexual Assault Awareness Month

This April, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, learn how to take steps to build connected communities and enhance your knowledge of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. In addition, we invite you to explore how to create safe communities where everyone feels safe and supported. We’re asking you to join us in building connected communities that promote equity and respect, as our connections to one another have an impact more significant than just ourselves.

Together We Can Build Connected Communities

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource gives background and context to help audiences understand how prevention efforts can be expanded to the community level. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

Building Blocks of A Connected Community

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource explores what the building blocks of a connected community are and how these connections protect against the risk of sexual violence. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

#30DaysofSAAM Instagram Challenge 2024

• March 01, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Join advocates, activists, survivors, and supporters who are getting involved in Sexual Assault Awareness Month #SAAM2024 this April on Instagram. Daily prompts encourage creative ways to raise awareness, educate, and connect with others — plus, you have a chance to win prizes every day you participate.

Building Connected Communities Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

We Can End Sexual Violence Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Share Your Voice Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Together We Can Build Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

SAAM 2024 Proclamation

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a time to draw attention to the prevalence of sexual assault and educate individuals and communities about how to prevent it. Use this proclamation as a clear declaration to join advocates and communities across the country in taking action to prevent sexual violence.

¿Cómo apoyar a los hombres en su sanación tras incidentes de violencia sexual?: hojas informativas

• January 18, 2024
• JL Heinze

Una serie de hojas informativas sobre cómo trabajar con los hombres. Entre los temas están: cómo llegar a los hombres, adicción, sobrevivientes transmasculinos, exámenes forenses, hombres recluidos, recursos para hombres y enlaces de referencia rápida para los intercesores. Este recurso es parte del conjunto de publicaciones ¿Cómo trabajar con sobrevivientes masculinos de violencia sexual?.

Supporting Men in Healing from Sexual Violence: Tip Sheets

• January 18, 2024
• NSVRC

A series of tip sheets on working with men. Topics include reaching men, addiction, transmasculine survivors, forensic exams, incarcerated men, resources for men, and quick reference links for advocates. This resource is part of Working with Male Survivors of Sexual Violence.

References 

Basile, K. C., Smith, S. G., Kresnow, M., Khatiwada S., & Leemis, R. W. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 report on sexual violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs/nisvsReportonSexualViolence.pdf

Chen, J., Khatiwada, S., Chen, M. S., Smith, S. G., Leemis, R. W., Friar, N., Basile, K. C., and Kresnow, M. (2023). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2016/2017: Report on Victimization by Sexual Identity. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf

Rosay, A. B. (2016, September). Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and men,. NIJ Journal, 277. National Institute of Justice. http://nij.gov/journals/277/Pages/violence-againstamerican-indians-alaska-natives.aspx

Prevention Institute & National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2021). A Health Equity Approach to Preventing Sexual Violence. https://www.nsvrc.org/resource/2500/health-equity-approach-preventing-sexual-violence

Tomsa, R., Gutu, S., Cojocaru, D., Gutiérrez-Bermejo, B., Flores, N., & Jenaro, C. (2021). Prevalence of sexual abuse in adults with intellectual disability: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1980. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041980

Online Child Abuse Survivors Forums and Live Chat Room

isurvive is all about the members. Our collective aim is to offer support to each other from our hearts and through our experiences.

After you have completed our automated registration process to become a member (visit the forum for the registration link), you will be contacted by one of our Admin Team who will guide you through the final steps. We make every effort to ensure that those joining are fully aware of our guidelines and to be on hand to help ease their way into our community.

We have 8 parent forums:

• General Discussion
• Survivors
• Addictions, Self-Harm and Unhealthy Coping Strategies (hidden to non-members)
• Breaking the Cycle
• Self-Care Center
• Family, Friends and Relationships
• Lighthearted and Off Topic
• Creative Corner and Art Gallery

In addition to select sub-forums which are open for reading, you will gain access to the following supplementary ones by becoming a member of isurvive:

• Our Stories
  The stories of who we are and of our lives
• Survivors of Incest and Sexual Abuse
  Discussion area specifically for childhood sexual abuse survivors
• Survivors of Ritualized Abuse
  Discussion area for survivors whose child abuse was organized, repetitive, secretive, ritualized and/or torture based. Some topics include healing from the abuse caused by cults, religious or spiritual groups, torture-based systematic abuse, mind control, pornography rings, sex trafficking and child prostitution
• Survivors with Dissociative Disorders or PTSD
  Discussion area for survivors who live daily with PTSD or a Dissociative Disorder.  Opportunities to discuss how these conditions impact their lives as well as being a place to gain support, share experiences and offer ideas for managing the symptoms and difficulties that arise. Some topics of discussion include: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Dissociative Amnesia (DA), Dissociative Disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS), Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder
• Dissociative Youth Forum
• Safe discussion areas for dissociative younger parts to share, discuss and seek support as they heal, live and manage daily life
• Male Survivors of Child Abuse, Incest and Sexual Abuse
  A discussion and support area for male survivors of all types of child abuse
• Contact with Past Abusers/Enablers
  Discussion area for issues that arise when contact from abusers or enablers is made. It also is a place to write letters to abusers/enablers to help process feelings and thoughts
• Survivors Living/Having a Relationship With Their Abusers
  Discussion area for those who choose to remain in contact or are still living with their abusers/enablers. This is an area where discussions can be held free from any pressures to change your circumstances
• Survivors with Addictions, Dependence or Compulsions
  A forum for adult child abuse survivors dealing with unhealthy behaviour patterns, trapped in an addictive cycle or struggling to break free from compulsive coping methods. Difficulties and healing regarding self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorders, OCD, hoarding, gambling and other similar behaviours can be discussed here
• Relationships
  A discussion area for processing intimacy and relationship difficulties and sharing healing experiences
• Parenting Trials and Tribulations
  This is a place for all parents/carers to share difficulties and achievements which may arise while dealing with their own healing

Register to Join Our Forums and Chat Room

We also have a chat room, to which you can request access following a minimum of 2 weeks’ active participation on the forums.

Here you can seek support via real time connection through real time interactions.

Once inside the chat room, you will see a list of the members currently online. To chat, users type a message into a text box. The message is almost immediately visible in the larger communal message area, and other users respond.

Please know that, as a team, we are here to help and can be contacted at any time as follows:

The Directors:

• jonesy@isurvive.org
• serenity@isurvive.org

The Board of Directors:

• boardofdirectors@isurvive.org

Please read through our Forum Guidelines, Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability, Privacy Policy, and Chat Guidelines

Building Connected Communities

Sexual Assualt Awareness Month 2024

Building Connected Communities helps us reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment in our communities. Any space where people come together is a community, whether in neighborhoods, workplaces, campuses, organizations, or even online spaces. We are all a part of a community, often many, even when we may feel disconnected or apart from them.

Community is powerful. Community creates a sense of belonging and reminds us of how our beliefs, choices, and actions impact one another. At the center of Building Connected Communities is ensuring our communities are safe, inclusive, and equitable. Racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, and other forms of oppression contribute to higher rates of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. We must address all abuses of power to prevent sexual violence — in our relationships, communities, and society.

What does it take to Build Connected Communities?

Addressing the social and structural determinants of health, such as education, income, employment, community safety, and social support, is crucial to improving the conditions in which we live, learn, work, and play. In a connected community, we can look out for one another and make choices to promote health, safety, and well-being. Building Connected Communities brings us closer to the goal of health equity. Health equity means that everyone, no matter their situation, has a chance to achieve their best possible health, creating a fair and just opportunity for all to reach their highest level of well-being (PI & NSVRC 2021).

We recognize that how we talk about sexual violence significantly impacts survivors, their families, our communities, and society. We also understand that our voices have power and that when one of us does not feel safe or respected we are all affected. As such, we must strive to create strong, connected communities that take care of one another and make decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of others to end sexual violence.

Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact — including sexual assault, harassment, and abuse.

Forms of sexual violence include:

• Rape or sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual abuse
• Unwanted sexual contact/touching
• Sexual exploitation and trafficking,
• Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent,
• Nonconsensual image sharing
• Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent
• Sexual violence represents a range of behaviors

Statistics show:

• Most women and men across all sexual identities who experienced contact sexual violence reported that the person who harmed them was someone they knew (Chen, et al., 2023).
• Over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• 1 in 5 male victims reported only male perpetrators, 1 in 2 had only female perpetrators, and about 1 in 6 had both male and female perpetrators  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• More than 1 and 4 non-Hispanic Black women (29%) in the United States were raped in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• 1 in 3 Hispanic women (34.8%) reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime (Rosay, 2016).
• 32.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence (Tomsa et al., 2021).
• 47% of all transgender people have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives (James et al., 2016).

Awareness and Action during Sexual Assault Awareness Month

This April, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, learn how to take steps to build connected communities and enhance your knowledge of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. In addition, we invite you to explore how to create safe communities where everyone feels safe and supported. We’re asking you to join us in building connected communities that promote equity and respect, as our connections to one another have an impact more significant than just ourselves.

Together We Can Build Connected Communities

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource gives background and context to help audiences understand how prevention efforts can be expanded to the community level. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

Building Blocks of A Connected Community

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource explores what the building blocks of a connected community are and how these connections protect against the risk of sexual violence. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

#30DaysofSAAM Instagram Challenge 2024

• March 01, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Join advocates, activists, survivors, and supporters who are getting involved in Sexual Assault Awareness Month #SAAM2024 this April on Instagram. Daily prompts encourage creative ways to raise awareness, educate, and connect with others — plus, you have a chance to win prizes every day you participate.

Building Connected Communities Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

We Can End Sexual Violence Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Share Your Voice Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Together We Can Build Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

SAAM 2024 Proclamation

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a time to draw attention to the prevalence of sexual assault and educate individuals and communities about how to prevent it. Use this proclamation as a clear declaration to join advocates and communities across the country in taking action to prevent sexual violence.

¿Cómo apoyar a los hombres en su sanación tras incidentes de violencia sexual?: hojas informativas

• January 18, 2024
• JL Heinze

Una serie de hojas informativas sobre cómo trabajar con los hombres. Entre los temas están: cómo llegar a los hombres, adicción, sobrevivientes transmasculinos, exámenes forenses, hombres recluidos, recursos para hombres y enlaces de referencia rápida para los intercesores. Este recurso es parte del conjunto de publicaciones ¿Cómo trabajar con sobrevivientes masculinos de violencia sexual?.

Supporting Men in Healing from Sexual Violence: Tip Sheets

• January 18, 2024
• NSVRC

A series of tip sheets on working with men. Topics include reaching men, addiction, transmasculine survivors, forensic exams, incarcerated men, resources for men, and quick reference links for advocates. This resource is part of Working with Male Survivors of Sexual Violence.

References 

Basile, K. C., Smith, S. G., Kresnow, M., Khatiwada S., & Leemis, R. W. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 report on sexual violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs/nisvsReportonSexualViolence.pdf

Chen, J., Khatiwada, S., Chen, M. S., Smith, S. G., Leemis, R. W., Friar, N., Basile, K. C., and Kresnow, M. (2023). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2016/2017: Report on Victimization by Sexual Identity. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf

Rosay, A. B. (2016, September). Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and men,. NIJ Journal, 277. National Institute of Justice. http://nij.gov/journals/277/Pages/violence-againstamerican-indians-alaska-natives.aspx

Prevention Institute & National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2021). A Health Equity Approach to Preventing Sexual Violence. https://www.nsvrc.org/resource/2500/health-equity-approach-preventing-sexual-violence

Tomsa, R., Gutu, S., Cojocaru, D., Gutiérrez-Bermejo, B., Flores, N., & Jenaro, C. (2021). Prevalence of sexual abuse in adults with intellectual disability: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1980. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041980

Online Child Abuse Survivors Forums and Live Chat Room

isurvive is all about the members. Our collective aim is to offer support to each other from our hearts and through our experiences.

After you have completed our automated registration process to become a member (visit the forum for the registration link), you will be contacted by one of our Admin Team who will guide you through the final steps. We make every effort to ensure that those joining are fully aware of our guidelines and to be on hand to help ease their way into our community.

We have 8 parent forums:

• General Discussion
• Survivors
• Addictions, Self-Harm and Unhealthy Coping Strategies (hidden to non-members)
• Breaking the Cycle
• Self-Care Center
• Family, Friends and Relationships
• Lighthearted and Off Topic
• Creative Corner and Art Gallery

In addition to select sub-forums which are open for reading, you will gain access to the following supplementary ones by becoming a member of isurvive:

• Our Stories
  The stories of who we are and of our lives
• Survivors of Incest and Sexual Abuse
  Discussion area specifically for childhood sexual abuse survivors
• Survivors of Ritualized Abuse
  Discussion area for survivors whose child abuse was organized, repetitive, secretive, ritualized and/or torture based. Some topics include healing from the abuse caused by cults, religious or spiritual groups, torture-based systematic abuse, mind control, pornography rings, sex trafficking and child prostitution
• Survivors with Dissociative Disorders or PTSD
  Discussion area for survivors who live daily with PTSD or a Dissociative Disorder.  Opportunities to discuss how these conditions impact their lives as well as being a place to gain support, share experiences and offer ideas for managing the symptoms and difficulties that arise. Some topics of discussion include: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Dissociative Amnesia (DA), Dissociative Disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS), Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder
• Dissociative Youth Forum
• Safe discussion areas for dissociative younger parts to share, discuss and seek support as they heal, live and manage daily life
• Male Survivors of Child Abuse, Incest and Sexual Abuse
  A discussion and support area for male survivors of all types of child abuse
• Contact with Past Abusers/Enablers
  Discussion area for issues that arise when contact from abusers or enablers is made. It also is a place to write letters to abusers/enablers to help process feelings and thoughts
• Survivors Living/Having a Relationship With Their Abusers
  Discussion area for those who choose to remain in contact or are still living with their abusers/enablers. This is an area where discussions can be held free from any pressures to change your circumstances
• Survivors with Addictions, Dependence or Compulsions
  A forum for adult child abuse survivors dealing with unhealthy behaviour patterns, trapped in an addictive cycle or struggling to break free from compulsive coping methods. Difficulties and healing regarding self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorders, OCD, hoarding, gambling and other similar behaviours can be discussed here
• Relationships
  A discussion area for processing intimacy and relationship difficulties and sharing healing experiences
• Parenting Trials and Tribulations
  This is a place for all parents/carers to share difficulties and achievements which may arise while dealing with their own healing

Register to Join Our Forums and Chat Room

We also have a chat room, to which you can request access following a minimum of 2 weeks’ active participation on the forums.

Here you can seek support via real time connection through real time interactions.

Once inside the chat room, you will see a list of the members currently online. To chat, users type a message into a text box. The message is almost immediately visible in the larger communal message area, and other users respond.

Please know that, as a team, we are here to help and can be contacted at any time as follows:

The Directors:

• jonesy@isurvive.org
• serenity@isurvive.org

The Board of Directors:

• boardofdirectors@isurvive.org

Please read through our Forum Guidelines, Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability, Privacy Policy, and Chat Guidelines

Building Connected Communities

Sexual Assualt Awareness Month 2024

Building Connected Communities helps us reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment in our communities. Any space where people come together is a community, whether in neighborhoods, workplaces, campuses, organizations, or even online spaces. We are all a part of a community, often many, even when we may feel disconnected or apart from them.

Community is powerful. Community creates a sense of belonging and reminds us of how our beliefs, choices, and actions impact one another. At the center of Building Connected Communities is ensuring our communities are safe, inclusive, and equitable. Racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, and other forms of oppression contribute to higher rates of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. We must address all abuses of power to prevent sexual violence — in our relationships, communities, and society.

What does it take to Build Connected Communities?

Addressing the social and structural determinants of health, such as education, income, employment, community safety, and social support, is crucial to improving the conditions in which we live, learn, work, and play. In a connected community, we can look out for one another and make choices to promote health, safety, and well-being. Building Connected Communities brings us closer to the goal of health equity. Health equity means that everyone, no matter their situation, has a chance to achieve their best possible health, creating a fair and just opportunity for all to reach their highest level of well-being (PI & NSVRC 2021).

We recognize that how we talk about sexual violence significantly impacts survivors, their families, our communities, and society. We also understand that our voices have power and that when one of us does not feel safe or respected we are all affected. As such, we must strive to create strong, connected communities that take care of one another and make decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of others to end sexual violence.

Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact — including sexual assault, harassment, and abuse.

Forms of sexual violence include:

• Rape or sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual abuse
• Unwanted sexual contact/touching
• Sexual exploitation and trafficking,
• Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent,
• Nonconsensual image sharing
• Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent
• Sexual violence represents a range of behaviors

Statistics show:

• Most women and men across all sexual identities who experienced contact sexual violence reported that the person who harmed them was someone they knew (Chen, et al., 2023).
• Over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• 1 in 5 male victims reported only male perpetrators, 1 in 2 had only female perpetrators, and about 1 in 6 had both male and female perpetrators  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• More than 1 and 4 non-Hispanic Black women (29%) in the United States were raped in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• 1 in 3 Hispanic women (34.8%) reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime (Rosay, 2016).
• 32.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence (Tomsa et al., 2021).
• 47% of all transgender people have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives (James et al., 2016).

Awareness and Action during Sexual Assault Awareness Month

This April, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, learn how to take steps to build connected communities and enhance your knowledge of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. In addition, we invite you to explore how to create safe communities where everyone feels safe and supported. We’re asking you to join us in building connected communities that promote equity and respect, as our connections to one another have an impact more significant than just ourselves.

Together We Can Build Connected Communities

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource gives background and context to help audiences understand how prevention efforts can be expanded to the community level. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

Building Blocks of A Connected Community

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource explores what the building blocks of a connected community are and how these connections protect against the risk of sexual violence. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

#30DaysofSAAM Instagram Challenge 2024

• March 01, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Join advocates, activists, survivors, and supporters who are getting involved in Sexual Assault Awareness Month #SAAM2024 this April on Instagram. Daily prompts encourage creative ways to raise awareness, educate, and connect with others — plus, you have a chance to win prizes every day you participate.

Building Connected Communities Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

We Can End Sexual Violence Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Share Your Voice Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Together We Can Build Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

SAAM 2024 Proclamation

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a time to draw attention to the prevalence of sexual assault and educate individuals and communities about how to prevent it. Use this proclamation as a clear declaration to join advocates and communities across the country in taking action to prevent sexual violence.

¿Cómo apoyar a los hombres en su sanación tras incidentes de violencia sexual?: hojas informativas

• January 18, 2024
• JL Heinze

Una serie de hojas informativas sobre cómo trabajar con los hombres. Entre los temas están: cómo llegar a los hombres, adicción, sobrevivientes transmasculinos, exámenes forenses, hombres recluidos, recursos para hombres y enlaces de referencia rápida para los intercesores. Este recurso es parte del conjunto de publicaciones ¿Cómo trabajar con sobrevivientes masculinos de violencia sexual?.

Supporting Men in Healing from Sexual Violence: Tip Sheets

• January 18, 2024
• NSVRC

A series of tip sheets on working with men. Topics include reaching men, addiction, transmasculine survivors, forensic exams, incarcerated men, resources for men, and quick reference links for advocates. This resource is part of Working with Male Survivors of Sexual Violence.

References 

Basile, K. C., Smith, S. G., Kresnow, M., Khatiwada S., & Leemis, R. W. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 report on sexual violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs/nisvsReportonSexualViolence.pdf

Chen, J., Khatiwada, S., Chen, M. S., Smith, S. G., Leemis, R. W., Friar, N., Basile, K. C., and Kresnow, M. (2023). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2016/2017: Report on Victimization by Sexual Identity. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf

Rosay, A. B. (2016, September). Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and men,. NIJ Journal, 277. National Institute of Justice. http://nij.gov/journals/277/Pages/violence-againstamerican-indians-alaska-natives.aspx

Prevention Institute & National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2021). A Health Equity Approach to Preventing Sexual Violence. https://www.nsvrc.org/resource/2500/health-equity-approach-preventing-sexual-violence

Tomsa, R., Gutu, S., Cojocaru, D., Gutiérrez-Bermejo, B., Flores, N., & Jenaro, C. (2021). Prevalence of sexual abuse in adults with intellectual disability: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1980. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041980

Online Child Abuse Survivors Forums and Live Chat Room

isurvive is all about the members. Our collective aim is to offer support to each other from our hearts and through our experiences.

After you have completed our automated registration process to become a member (visit the forum for the registration link), you will be contacted by one of our Admin Team who will guide you through the final steps. We make every effort to ensure that those joining are fully aware of our guidelines and to be on hand to help ease their way into our community.

We have 8 parent forums:

• General Discussion
• Survivors
• Addictions, Self-Harm and Unhealthy Coping Strategies (hidden to non-members)
• Breaking the Cycle
• Self-Care Center
• Family, Friends and Relationships
• Lighthearted and Off Topic
• Creative Corner and Art Gallery

In addition to select sub-forums which are open for reading, you will gain access to the following supplementary ones by becoming a member of isurvive:

• Our Stories
  The stories of who we are and of our lives
• Survivors of Incest and Sexual Abuse
  Discussion area specifically for childhood sexual abuse survivors
• Survivors of Ritualized Abuse
  Discussion area for survivors whose child abuse was organized, repetitive, secretive, ritualized and/or torture based. Some topics include healing from the abuse caused by cults, religious or spiritual groups, torture-based systematic abuse, mind control, pornography rings, sex trafficking and child prostitution
• Survivors with Dissociative Disorders or PTSD
  Discussion area for survivors who live daily with PTSD or a Dissociative Disorder.  Opportunities to discuss how these conditions impact their lives as well as being a place to gain support, share experiences and offer ideas for managing the symptoms and difficulties that arise. Some topics of discussion include: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Dissociative Amnesia (DA), Dissociative Disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS), Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder
• Dissociative Youth Forum
• Safe discussion areas for dissociative younger parts to share, discuss and seek support as they heal, live and manage daily life
• Male Survivors of Child Abuse, Incest and Sexual Abuse
  A discussion and support area for male survivors of all types of child abuse
• Contact with Past Abusers/Enablers
  Discussion area for issues that arise when contact from abusers or enablers is made. It also is a place to write letters to abusers/enablers to help process feelings and thoughts
• Survivors Living/Having a Relationship With Their Abusers
  Discussion area for those who choose to remain in contact or are still living with their abusers/enablers. This is an area where discussions can be held free from any pressures to change your circumstances
• Survivors with Addictions, Dependence or Compulsions
  A forum for adult child abuse survivors dealing with unhealthy behaviour patterns, trapped in an addictive cycle or struggling to break free from compulsive coping methods. Difficulties and healing regarding self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorders, OCD, hoarding, gambling and other similar behaviours can be discussed here
• Relationships
  A discussion area for processing intimacy and relationship difficulties and sharing healing experiences
• Parenting Trials and Tribulations
  This is a place for all parents/carers to share difficulties and achievements which may arise while dealing with their own healing

Register to Join Our Forums and Chat Room

We also have a chat room, to which you can request access following a minimum of 2 weeks’ active participation on the forums.

Here you can seek support via real time connection through real time interactions.

Once inside the chat room, you will see a list of the members currently online. To chat, users type a message into a text box. The message is almost immediately visible in the larger communal message area, and other users respond.

Please know that, as a team, we are here to help and can be contacted at any time as follows:

The Directors:

• jonesy@isurvive.org
• serenity@isurvive.org

The Board of Directors:

• boardofdirectors@isurvive.org

Please read through our Forum Guidelines, Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability, Privacy Policy, and Chat Guidelines

Building Connected Communities

Sexual Assualt Awareness Month 2024

Building Connected Communities helps us reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment in our communities. Any space where people come together is a community, whether in neighborhoods, workplaces, campuses, organizations, or even online spaces. We are all a part of a community, often many, even when we may feel disconnected or apart from them.

Community is powerful. Community creates a sense of belonging and reminds us of how our beliefs, choices, and actions impact one another. At the center of Building Connected Communities is ensuring our communities are safe, inclusive, and equitable. Racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, and other forms of oppression contribute to higher rates of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. We must address all abuses of power to prevent sexual violence — in our relationships, communities, and society.

What does it take to Build Connected Communities?

Addressing the social and structural determinants of health, such as education, income, employment, community safety, and social support, is crucial to improving the conditions in which we live, learn, work, and play. In a connected community, we can look out for one another and make choices to promote health, safety, and well-being. Building Connected Communities brings us closer to the goal of health equity. Health equity means that everyone, no matter their situation, has a chance to achieve their best possible health, creating a fair and just opportunity for all to reach their highest level of well-being (PI & NSVRC 2021).

We recognize that how we talk about sexual violence significantly impacts survivors, their families, our communities, and society. We also understand that our voices have power and that when one of us does not feel safe or respected we are all affected. As such, we must strive to create strong, connected communities that take care of one another and make decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of others to end sexual violence.

Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact — including sexual assault, harassment, and abuse.

Forms of sexual violence include:

• Rape or sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual abuse
• Unwanted sexual contact/touching
• Sexual exploitation and trafficking,
• Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent,
• Nonconsensual image sharing
• Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent
• Sexual violence represents a range of behaviors

Statistics show:

• Most women and men across all sexual identities who experienced contact sexual violence reported that the person who harmed them was someone they knew (Chen, et al., 2023).
• Over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• 1 in 5 male victims reported only male perpetrators, 1 in 2 had only female perpetrators, and about 1 in 6 had both male and female perpetrators  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• More than 1 and 4 non-Hispanic Black women (29%) in the United States were raped in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• 1 in 3 Hispanic women (34.8%) reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime (Rosay, 2016).
• 32.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence (Tomsa et al., 2021).
• 47% of all transgender people have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives (James et al., 2016).

Awareness and Action during Sexual Assault Awareness Month

This April, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, learn how to take steps to build connected communities and enhance your knowledge of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. In addition, we invite you to explore how to create safe communities where everyone feels safe and supported. We’re asking you to join us in building connected communities that promote equity and respect, as our connections to one another have an impact more significant than just ourselves.

Together We Can Build Connected Communities

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource gives background and context to help audiences understand how prevention efforts can be expanded to the community level. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

Building Blocks of A Connected Community

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource explores what the building blocks of a connected community are and how these connections protect against the risk of sexual violence. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

#30DaysofSAAM Instagram Challenge 2024

• March 01, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Join advocates, activists, survivors, and supporters who are getting involved in Sexual Assault Awareness Month #SAAM2024 this April on Instagram. Daily prompts encourage creative ways to raise awareness, educate, and connect with others — plus, you have a chance to win prizes every day you participate.

Building Connected Communities Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

We Can End Sexual Violence Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Share Your Voice Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Together We Can Build Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

SAAM 2024 Proclamation

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a time to draw attention to the prevalence of sexual assault and educate individuals and communities about how to prevent it. Use this proclamation as a clear declaration to join advocates and communities across the country in taking action to prevent sexual violence.

¿Cómo apoyar a los hombres en su sanación tras incidentes de violencia sexual?: hojas informativas

• January 18, 2024
• JL Heinze

Una serie de hojas informativas sobre cómo trabajar con los hombres. Entre los temas están: cómo llegar a los hombres, adicción, sobrevivientes transmasculinos, exámenes forenses, hombres recluidos, recursos para hombres y enlaces de referencia rápida para los intercesores. Este recurso es parte del conjunto de publicaciones ¿Cómo trabajar con sobrevivientes masculinos de violencia sexual?.

Supporting Men in Healing from Sexual Violence: Tip Sheets

• January 18, 2024
• NSVRC

A series of tip sheets on working with men. Topics include reaching men, addiction, transmasculine survivors, forensic exams, incarcerated men, resources for men, and quick reference links for advocates. This resource is part of Working with Male Survivors of Sexual Violence.

References 

Basile, K. C., Smith, S. G., Kresnow, M., Khatiwada S., & Leemis, R. W. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 report on sexual violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs/nisvsReportonSexualViolence.pdf

Chen, J., Khatiwada, S., Chen, M. S., Smith, S. G., Leemis, R. W., Friar, N., Basile, K. C., and Kresnow, M. (2023). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2016/2017: Report on Victimization by Sexual Identity. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf

Rosay, A. B. (2016, September). Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and men,. NIJ Journal, 277. National Institute of Justice. http://nij.gov/journals/277/Pages/violence-againstamerican-indians-alaska-natives.aspx

Prevention Institute & National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2021). A Health Equity Approach to Preventing Sexual Violence. https://www.nsvrc.org/resource/2500/health-equity-approach-preventing-sexual-violence

Tomsa, R., Gutu, S., Cojocaru, D., Gutiérrez-Bermejo, B., Flores, N., & Jenaro, C. (2021). Prevalence of sexual abuse in adults with intellectual disability: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1980. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041980

Online Child Abuse Survivors Forums and Live Chat Room

isurvive is all about the members. Our collective aim is to offer support to each other from our hearts and through our experiences.

After you have completed our automated registration process to become a member (visit the forum for the registration link), you will be contacted by one of our Admin Team who will guide you through the final steps. We make every effort to ensure that those joining are fully aware of our guidelines and to be on hand to help ease their way into our community.

We have 8 parent forums:

• General Discussion
• Survivors
• Addictions, Self-Harm and Unhealthy Coping Strategies (hidden to non-members)
• Breaking the Cycle
• Self-Care Center
• Family, Friends and Relationships
• Lighthearted and Off Topic
• Creative Corner and Art Gallery

In addition to select sub-forums which are open for reading, you will gain access to the following supplementary ones by becoming a member of isurvive:

• Our Stories
  The stories of who we are and of our lives
• Survivors of Incest and Sexual Abuse
  Discussion area specifically for childhood sexual abuse survivors
• Survivors of Ritualized Abuse
  Discussion area for survivors whose child abuse was organized, repetitive, secretive, ritualized and/or torture based. Some topics include healing from the abuse caused by cults, religious or spiritual groups, torture-based systematic abuse, mind control, pornography rings, sex trafficking and child prostitution
• Survivors with Dissociative Disorders or PTSD
  Discussion area for survivors who live daily with PTSD or a Dissociative Disorder.  Opportunities to discuss how these conditions impact their lives as well as being a place to gain support, share experiences and offer ideas for managing the symptoms and difficulties that arise. Some topics of discussion include: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Dissociative Amnesia (DA), Dissociative Disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS), Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder
• Dissociative Youth Forum
• Safe discussion areas for dissociative younger parts to share, discuss and seek support as they heal, live and manage daily life
• Male Survivors of Child Abuse, Incest and Sexual Abuse
  A discussion and support area for male survivors of all types of child abuse
• Contact with Past Abusers/Enablers
  Discussion area for issues that arise when contact from abusers or enablers is made. It also is a place to write letters to abusers/enablers to help process feelings and thoughts
• Survivors Living/Having a Relationship With Their Abusers
  Discussion area for those who choose to remain in contact or are still living with their abusers/enablers. This is an area where discussions can be held free from any pressures to change your circumstances
• Survivors with Addictions, Dependence or Compulsions
  A forum for adult child abuse survivors dealing with unhealthy behaviour patterns, trapped in an addictive cycle or struggling to break free from compulsive coping methods. Difficulties and healing regarding self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorders, OCD, hoarding, gambling and other similar behaviours can be discussed here
• Relationships
  A discussion area for processing intimacy and relationship difficulties and sharing healing experiences
• Parenting Trials and Tribulations
  This is a place for all parents/carers to share difficulties and achievements which may arise while dealing with their own healing

Register to Join Our Forums and Chat Room

We also have a chat room, to which you can request access following a minimum of 2 weeks’ active participation on the forums.

Here you can seek support via real time connection through real time interactions.

Once inside the chat room, you will see a list of the members currently online. To chat, users type a message into a text box. The message is almost immediately visible in the larger communal message area, and other users respond.

Please know that, as a team, we are here to help and can be contacted at any time as follows:

The Directors:

• jonesy@isurvive.org
• serenity@isurvive.org

The Board of Directors:

• boardofdirectors@isurvive.org

Please read through our Forum Guidelines, Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability, Privacy Policy, and Chat Guidelines

Building Connected Communities

Sexual Assualt Awareness Month 2024

Building Connected Communities helps us reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment in our communities. Any space where people come together is a community, whether in neighborhoods, workplaces, campuses, organizations, or even online spaces. We are all a part of a community, often many, even when we may feel disconnected or apart from them.

Community is powerful. Community creates a sense of belonging and reminds us of how our beliefs, choices, and actions impact one another. At the center of Building Connected Communities is ensuring our communities are safe, inclusive, and equitable. Racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, and other forms of oppression contribute to higher rates of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. We must address all abuses of power to prevent sexual violence — in our relationships, communities, and society.

What does it take to Build Connected Communities?

Addressing the social and structural determinants of health, such as education, income, employment, community safety, and social support, is crucial to improving the conditions in which we live, learn, work, and play. In a connected community, we can look out for one another and make choices to promote health, safety, and well-being. Building Connected Communities brings us closer to the goal of health equity. Health equity means that everyone, no matter their situation, has a chance to achieve their best possible health, creating a fair and just opportunity for all to reach their highest level of well-being (PI & NSVRC 2021).

We recognize that how we talk about sexual violence significantly impacts survivors, their families, our communities, and society. We also understand that our voices have power and that when one of us does not feel safe or respected we are all affected. As such, we must strive to create strong, connected communities that take care of one another and make decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of others to end sexual violence.

Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact — including sexual assault, harassment, and abuse.

Forms of sexual violence include:

• Rape or sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual abuse
• Unwanted sexual contact/touching
• Sexual exploitation and trafficking,
• Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent,
• Nonconsensual image sharing
• Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent
• Sexual violence represents a range of behaviors

Statistics show:

• Most women and men across all sexual identities who experienced contact sexual violence reported that the person who harmed them was someone they knew (Chen, et al., 2023).
• Over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• 1 in 5 male victims reported only male perpetrators, 1 in 2 had only female perpetrators, and about 1 in 6 had both male and female perpetrators  (Chen, et al., 2023).
• More than 1 and 4 non-Hispanic Black women (29%) in the United States were raped in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• 1 in 3 Hispanic women (34.8%) reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime (Rosay, 2016).
• 32.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence (Tomsa et al., 2021).
• 47% of all transgender people have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives (James et al., 2016).

Awareness and Action during Sexual Assault Awareness Month

This April, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, learn how to take steps to build connected communities and enhance your knowledge of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. In addition, we invite you to explore how to create safe communities where everyone feels safe and supported. We’re asking you to join us in building connected communities that promote equity and respect, as our connections to one another have an impact more significant than just ourselves.

Together We Can Build Connected Communities

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource gives background and context to help audiences understand how prevention efforts can be expanded to the community level. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

Building Blocks of A Connected Community

• March 27, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This resource explores what the building blocks of a connected community are and how these connections protect against the risk of sexual violence. Developed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communties campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, this resource provides examples of what community-level prevention can look like. Community-level prevention means making changes to larger-level factors and conditions to reduce the likelihood that people will perpetrate sexual violence. These broader conditions that can impact an entire community include the physical environment and

#30DaysofSAAM Instagram Challenge 2024

• March 01, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Join advocates, activists, survivors, and supporters who are getting involved in Sexual Assault Awareness Month #SAAM2024 this April on Instagram. Daily prompts encourage creative ways to raise awareness, educate, and connect with others — plus, you have a chance to win prizes every day you participate.

Building Connected Communities Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

We Can End Sexual Violence Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Share Your Voice Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

Together We Can Build Coloring Page

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

This coloring page was designed as a part of NSVRC’s Building Connected Communities campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2024. Share how you are coloring to build community for #SAAM.

SAAM 2024 Proclamation

• February 29, 2024
• Laura Palumbo

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a time to draw attention to the prevalence of sexual assault and educate individuals and communities about how to prevent it. Use this proclamation as a clear declaration to join advocates and communities across the country in taking action to prevent sexual violence.

¿Cómo apoyar a los hombres en su sanación tras incidentes de violencia sexual?: hojas informativas

• January 18, 2024
• JL Heinze

Una serie de hojas informativas sobre cómo trabajar con los hombres. Entre los temas están: cómo llegar a los hombres, adicción, sobrevivientes transmasculinos, exámenes forenses, hombres recluidos, recursos para hombres y enlaces de referencia rápida para los intercesores. Este recurso es parte del conjunto de publicaciones ¿Cómo trabajar con sobrevivientes masculinos de violencia sexual?.

Supporting Men in Healing from Sexual Violence: Tip Sheets

• January 18, 2024
• NSVRC

A series of tip sheets on working with men. Topics include reaching men, addiction, transmasculine survivors, forensic exams, incarcerated men, resources for men, and quick reference links for advocates. This resource is part of Working with Male Survivors of Sexual Violence.

References 

Basile, K. C., Smith, S. G., Kresnow, M., Khatiwada S., & Leemis, R. W. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 report on sexual violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs/nisvsReportonSexualViolence.pdf

Chen, J., Khatiwada, S., Chen, M. S., Smith, S. G., Leemis, R. W., Friar, N., Basile, K. C., and Kresnow, M. (2023). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2016/2017: Report on Victimization by Sexual Identity. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf

Rosay, A. B. (2016, September). Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and men,. NIJ Journal, 277. National Institute of Justice. http://nij.gov/journals/277/Pages/violence-againstamerican-indians-alaska-natives.aspx

Prevention Institute & National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2021). A Health Equity Approach to Preventing Sexual Violence. https://www.nsvrc.org/resource/2500/health-equity-approach-preventing-sexual-violence

Tomsa, R., Gutu, S., Cojocaru, D., Gutiérrez-Bermejo, B., Flores, N., & Jenaro, C. (2021). Prevalence of sexual abuse in adults with intellectual disability: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1980. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041980

Online Child Abuse Survivors Forums and Live Chat Room

isurvive is all about the members. Our collective aim is to offer support to each other from our hearts and through our experiences.

After you have completed our automated registration process to become a member (visit the forum for the registration link), you will be contacted by one of our Admin Team who will guide you through the final steps. We make every effort to ensure that those joining are fully aware of our guidelines and to be on hand to help ease their way into our community.

We have 8 parent forums:

• General Discussion
• Survivors
• Addictions, Self-Harm and Unhealthy Coping Strategies (hidden to non-members)
• Breaking the Cycle
• Self-Care Center
• Family, Friends and Relationships
• Lighthearted and Off Topic
• Creative Corner and Art Gallery

In addition to select sub-forums which are open for reading, you will gain access to the following supplementary ones by becoming a member of isurvive:

• Our Stories
  The stories of who we are and of our lives
• Survivors of Incest and Sexual Abuse
  Discussion area specifically for childhood sexual abuse survivors
• Survivors of Ritualized Abuse
  Discussion area for survivors whose child abuse was organized, repetitive, secretive, ritualized and/or torture based. Some topics include healing from the abuse caused by cults, religious or spiritual groups, torture-based systematic abuse, mind control, pornography rings, sex trafficking and child prostitution
• Survivors with Dissociative Disorders or PTSD
  Discussion area for survivors who live daily with PTSD or a Dissociative Disorder.  Opportunities to discuss how these conditions impact their lives as well as being a place to gain support, share experiences and offer ideas for managing the symptoms and difficulties that arise. Some topics of discussion include: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Dissociative Amnesia (DA), Dissociative Disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS), Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder
• Dissociative Youth Forum
• Safe discussion areas for dissociative younger parts to share, discuss and seek support as they heal, live and manage daily life
• Male Survivors of Child Abuse, Incest and Sexual Abuse
  A discussion and support area for male survivors of all types of child abuse
• Contact with Past Abusers/Enablers
  Discussion area for issues that arise when contact from abusers or enablers is made. It also is a place to write letters to abusers/enablers to help process feelings and thoughts
• Survivors Living/Having a Relationship With Their Abusers
  Discussion area for those who choose to remain in contact or are still living with their abusers/enablers. This is an area where discussions can be held free from any pressures to change your circumstances
• Survivors with Addictions, Dependence or Compulsions
  A forum for adult child abuse survivors dealing with unhealthy behaviour patterns, trapped in an addictive cycle or struggling to break free from compulsive coping methods. Difficulties and healing regarding self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorders, OCD, hoarding, gambling and other similar behaviours can be discussed here
• Relationships
  A discussion area for processing intimacy and relationship difficulties and sharing healing experiences
• Parenting Trials and Tribulations
  This is a place for all parents/carers to share difficulties and achievements which may arise while dealing with their own healing

Register to Join Our Forums and Chat Room

We also have a chat room, to which you can request access following a minimum of 2 weeks’ active participation on the forums.

Here you can seek support via real time connection through real time interactions.

Once inside the chat room, you will see a list of the members currently online. To chat, users type a message into a text box. The message is almost immediately visible in the larger communal message area, and other users respond.

Please know that, as a team, we are here to help and can be contacted at any time as follows:

The Directors:

• jonesy@isurvive.org
• serenity@isurvive.org

The Board of Directors:

• boardofdirectors@isurvive.org

Please read through our Forum Guidelines, Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability, Privacy Policy, and Chat Guidelines